Monday, December 29, 2014

Like the year 2014, the first book of The Stone House Legacy is almost in the can. Proof copies are going out to reviewers and Beta readers. The final release date is scheduled for February 1 and a Launch Party is planned for February 22. (More information will be coming out soon.) If you would like to be among the first to read and review this book, please contact me below for your copy.

Set in the birthplace of the John
Birch Society, during the turbulent years of the early 1960’s, The Stone House Legacy reveals
mankind’s stubborn inclination to repeat the mistakes of past generations. For
nearly a century the old stone house has kept its secrets hidden deep in the
limestone hills of central Indiana. When an idealistic young minister decides
to develop the site as a religious retreat for ecumenical thought, however, the
secrets of its past cast a dark shadow over his plans. Eventually, he must
choose between his religious and political beliefs and the safety of his
family.

Since the book is part of a trilogy, I have already begun work on Book II. The book will focus on the historical events of the 1970, in particular, the struggle for women's rights. However, in this book, I also hope to explore the somewhat complicated relationship between mothers and sons. I am especially interested in how the absence of a strong father figure affects this relationship. Some of the characters from Book I will reappear with a whole new set of problems to overcome.

The working title for Book II is The Stone House Legacy: From Stone to Steel, but that could change as the work unfolds. I am aiming for a 2016 release for this version and I hope to set up a system for taking preorders as well. Watch this site as well as my author page on Facebook for the latest updates.

On another note, I have completed the reediting and interior reformatting for Windborne and I will be re-releasing it with a new cover design this spring. For those of you who may have missed it the first time around, Windborne is a novel of empowerment and awakening. Three generations of women born in the windswept Kansas
Flint Hills set aside their own hopes and dreams to support the dreams of the
men they fall in love with. But in the Flint Hills dreams often wither and die
from hardships brought on by climate extremes, economics and politics. As each
woman struggles to hold her family together through pain and heartache the
dream begins to unravel and she must discover the hidden strength and power
that lies deep within her to realize her own dreams.

All in all, it looks like a very busy 2015. I hope you will join me in making it the most successful year ever!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

During this time of reflection and thankfulness, I look back on the people who have made an impact on my life and the list of honorees are too numerous to mention. I credit the men in my life for making me fearless and keeping me humble. In particular, my husband and my son have allowed me to lean on them when time and circumstances overwhelmed me. They had the uncanny ability to refill my reserves when I felt drained and empty. But the strength I drew from them is quite different from the strength I drew from the women in my life. Women are often the unsung heroes of fiction. And it is for that reason that I have chosen to represent strong female protagonists in my writing.

It is the special bond between mothers, daughters, and sisters that ultimately shape the women we become. Unfortunately, when the bond is broken or weak, so is the woman. Without a strong woman in her life, a she often turns to a man to provide the strength she needs. Unfortunately, this type of relationship can ultimately lead to subjugation and dependency. (I realize that this is a generalization that may not be true in all cases, but for the sake of argument, bear with me.)

I also believe that we are all are strongly influenced by the culture of the times in which we come of age. At the risk of sounding trite, women have come a long way from the 1970's "either/or" vision of women as housewives or career women. We have even realized that the 1980's view of the superwoman who could actually do it all was completely unrealistic. Today, the men in the relationship no longer feel threatened by "women's work" and they eagerly embrace their roles as fathers as being more than merely a biological function. With this in mind, I like to place my female protagonist squarely in conflict with the historical and political culture of the times.

As I look at the women in my life - my mother, my sister, my daughter, and my daughters-in-law - I am thankful that they are all strong women and that the times in which we live celebrate that fact. They are not only capable of standing alone on the strength of their own independence, but they have made the men in their lives stronger because of it. They are equal partners in their relationships and will settle for nothing less. This is the legacy they will pass on their children.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Here it is...the cover for my new book, The Stone House Legacy. Watch for the release in January, 2015.

For nearly a century the old stone house has kept its secrets
hidden deep in the limestone hills of Indiana. But when an idealistic young
minister decides to develop the site as a religious retreat for ecumenical
thought, the secrets of its past cast a dark shadow over his plans.

Set in the birthplace of the John Birch Society during the turbulent years of the early 1960's, The Stone House Legacy reveals mankind's stubborn determination to repeat the mistakes of past generations.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

On
September 8, 1966, Star Trek made
its debut on NBC. Star Trek was
not simply a far-out science fiction program- it was a science fiction program
that reflected the America of the 1960's.
Throughout the series, characters, themes, motifs, and of course,
individual episodes made strong comments on sexism and feminism, racism and
improving race relations, as well as militarism and peace, all major social
issues during the late 1960's, and to a different degree, social issues of
today.

I
admit, with no shame, that I was a “Trekkie” during the first incarnation of the show. I had an
immense crush on Captain Kirk (a.k.a. William Shatner). He became the yardstick
by which I measured every man I knew.
The problem was that he set the bar for sensitivity, integrity and
leadership so high that no man (or woman) could measure up to it. He was like
Martin Sheen’s president in The West Wing
- above reproach and much wiser than those around him.

Captain
Kirk saw the world as it should be. He wasn’t threatened by women in leadership
roles. He didn’t seem to notice that his crew included not only women, but also
those of different races and ethnicities.
He wasn’t shocked by the grotesque appearance of space aliens. He simply
accepted them all as individuals.

His
“mission” was one of peace. As an explorer,
he had an intense curiosity about civilizations and beings that were different,
but he did not judge them as inferior because of those differences. He looked
first for common ground upon which relationships could be built.

The
major plot line of The Stone House Legacy follows closely the social and
political events unfolding in the early part of the 1960’s. I have tried to
focus on how these events affected the lives and relationships of ordinary
people and not just the ones who managed to procure their fifteen minutes of
fame on the emerging monster that has become “live TV”.

But
in fiction, there is a fine line between creating a character and creating a
caricature. As I began to work through rewrites of the chapters it suddenly
dawned on me that I had reincarnated Captain Kirk as my protagonist! The
difference is…my hero is plagued by a fatal flaw. I think this makes him more
real and hopefully more human. I hope you think so too.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

After a ten day scouting trip through Kansas, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio, I have pinpointed the specific locations for The Stone House Legacy. In doing so, I have been able to tighten the plot and fully develop the characters. I am excited to finish the story so I am targeting a release date in early 2015.But I need your help. I am including a brief pitch for the novel below, and I would love to hear from you.

Have I piqued your interest?

Does it make you want to pick up the book to find out what happens?

What kind of cover art would enhance the intrigue and add to the mystique?

Does anyone out there know a good book cover designer?

I'm also soliciting beta readers who would be willing to read the final draft and provide feedback before it goes to print. I'll supply a Word file, but in exchange, I would like you to provide a brief (45 word) endorsement that I could print in the book. Let me know if you're interested. I'd love to hear from you.

Wanda DeHaven Pyle

The Stone House Legacy

For nearly a century the old stone house has kept its secrets
hidden deep in the limestone hills of southern Indiana. But when an idealistic young
minister decides to develop the site as a religious retreat for ecumenical
thought, the secrets of its past cast a dark shadow over his plans.

Set in the birthplace of the John Birch Society during the
turbulent years of the early 1960’s, The
Stone House Legacy, reveals mankind’s stubborn determination to
repeat the mistakes of past generations.

When he returns from Vatican II
in Rome as a protestant observer, the Reverend Simon Kingsley is filled with
radical new ideas concerning long-held religious beliefs. He envisions a new order of religious and
political thought where people of all races and religions can come together to
seek common understanding.
Unfortunately, there are forces working against him who see this as a
threat to their way of life and a direct link to communist thought.

When the Simon joins the struggle for civil rights, he
becomes a target for radical groups seeking to stop the movement in its tracks
by discrediting and destroying its leaders.
Simon dreams of a sanctuary for rational thought and
understanding, but his eloquence and the strength of his convictions are no
match for the fear, distrust, and hatred that runs rampant through
society. His outspoken opinions soon
place the reverend and his family in grave danger. Eventually, Simon must choose between his religious and
political beliefs and the safety of his family.

The Stone House Legacy
explores the issue of separation of church and state during a time of religious
and political upheaval. It is a fast-moving tale of youthful idealism in
conflict with mid-western isolationism against a backdrop of fear and greed.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

At some point in our lives, we must all face the decision to repaint or remodel. My bathroom was right out of the 1970's...long laminate counter with a single sink at one end and a built in dressing table at the other. Women haven't sat down at a dressing table since the 1950's! What to do? It was the old "lipstick on a pig" dilemma. No, the best thing I could do to put this dated room out of its misery was to gut it and start fresh. But did I really want the expense and the inconvenience of a remodel? It was, after all, only a bathroom.

How many times in life are we faced with the decision to make the best of a bad situation or cut our losses and start over? Many years ago, my husband and I had to make the difficult decision to pull up our roots and leave behind family and friends to start over. We had worked long and hard to get to a certain point in our lives, but we had reached a dead end. We were stuck and no longer moving forward. If we stayed, the future looked bleak and disappointing. We were up against a wall. But we were reluctant to give up everything we had worked for to start over. It was a step backward in order to move forward. We knew what lay ahead if we stayed put, but starting over was full of unknowns. What if it didn't work out? Would we ever regain what we stood to lose? What if the future was no better than the present?

We took the leap. It was difficult. I had to give up my dream home and move into a much older, smaller home. I had to pull my children away from familiar surroundings to start school among strangers. I wish I could say that making the decision was the hardest part, but it wasn't. Starting over was full of disappointments and self doubt when things didn't go as smoothly as we had hoped. No one rushed to offer us jobs or welcome us to our new surroundings. We were alone and lost. Money was tight. The little extras we had taken for granted were now luxuries. Everyone had to cut back. We began to look backward with regret.

But there was no turning back. Bridges had been burnt. There was no other choice but to move forward. So we did. And at times it was like walking a tightrope without a safety net. Several years have passed since we made that decision and life has evened out. We have been able to move past our "stuck" position and squeeze more out of life than we ever thought possible. There were casualties along the way...things lost that can never be regained...friendships that cooled and waned. But in the end, the pain and inconvenience of starting over was well worth it.

I've watched others in my life face similar decisions and my heart goes out to them. In the beginning, it's all so exciting and life is full of promise. But there is also pain.I want them to know that the pain will pass and that if they keep focused on the future, things will eventually turn out for the best.

So what's my point? Roll up your sleeves and remodel that outdated bathroom!

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Finding time to write is never easy. I have recently returned to the workplace (part-time) and although the work is stimulating and rewarding, it does interfere with my writing. I sympathize with those who are holding down a full-time job, supporting a family and still trying to find time to write. My hat goes off to you!

Writers are a strange breed. It's sometimes easier for them to retreat into the fantasy worlds of their own creation and miss what's happening in the world they actually live in. Sometimes I find myself so lost in thought that I am oblivious to conversations happening all around me Other times I find myself looking at life from a distance as an observer instead of immersing myself in the activity of living the moment. I don't like to be disturbed when I'm "in the zone".

But I've matured...a nice way of saying I've gotten older...and priorities change. I'm spending more time with my grandchildren and I am amazed at how quickly they change. I don't remember my own children changing so fast. How did I miss those moments? What else have I missed?

I wish life would give us "do-overs". There are a few things I would do differently. For starters, I wouldn't take life so seriously. I would laugh more and not dwell so long on past hurts. I would be more patient and understand that both children and adults go through phases in their lives when they need support, guidance and understanding and that the best course of action is not to judge, but to listen. However, to really listen one must be present in the situation...not just physically, but emotionally. And that means leaving the "zone" and reentering the real world. The fantasy world will always be there, but time in the real world is fleeting. I don't want to miss another minute of it.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

It seems that
I have spent my whole life tying up loose ends. Once I think I’m finished, I
see something else that needs to be done before I can say that the job is complete. This obsession with loose ends often impedes
my ability to finish a task. I find it
difficult to walk away knowing there is something left undone. I find myself constantly revisiting past
projects to improve and make them better by tying up one more loose end.

On the
other hand, I sometimes find that the amount of work required to tie up all
those loose ends, is so daunting that it is easier to give up on a project rather
than tackle the task. I’ve never thought
of myself as a quitter, but I admit that there have been times when I backed
away from a job or even a promotion because there were so many unknowns and
loose ends. I was too discouraged to
even begin!

But the old
adage is true: “Every journey begins with a single step.” I took that step when
I wrote and self-published my first book. I knew nothing of publishing and I
was reluctant to turn the whole process over to someone else without knowing
what I was getting into. So I closed my
eyes and took a deep breath and forced myself to take that first step. I asked
questions. I made mistakes. I
learned. I am by no means an expert, but
I am no longer terrified.

Now I find
that the more I know, the more I need to know…more loose ends! It is so easy to get caught up in the details
that I lose sight of the goal. Lately, I
have immersed myself in learning the ropes of marketing myself and my work. I
have spent hours researching and building a following on social networks. I have developed press releases and promoted
myself at book signings and book clubs. As a result I have neglected the most important
and joyous part of being a writer…writing!

After
publishing my debut novel, I still wake up in the middle of the night thinking
of ways to make it better. I’m trying to stay focused on my next project, but I
am haunted by the loose ends from my previous work. I know that at some point I will revisit it
and republish a second, improved edition for no other reason than to bring some
closure to those loose ends.

As I near
the resolution of the plot for The Stone House Legacy, I am consumed by
the amount of loose ends that I have left dangling. There are so many details
that need to be flushed out and explained before this draft is complete that I have
allowed myself to become paralyzed by inaction. The task is so overwhelming that
I have been unable to move forward. I have even contemplated giving up on the
whole idea.

I have come
to this critical decision point so often in my life. Looking back, I see that
there were many times when I gave up on something when taking a single step
forward would have gotten me moving again. I believe I have a story to tell. I
believe that it will not only be entertaining, but insightful. I believe that
the story will not be told unless I tell it. I think I am ready to take that
next step. Wish me luck!

Thursday, May 29, 2014

You may be wondering where the title of this Blog came from since
it's not really about school marms and cowboys. It's actually more about
relationships. I have always been fascinated by the unexplainable attraction
between certain types of individuals. Using my own family and
acquaintances as the norm is, I know, an overgeneralization, but nevertheless,
it bears consideration.

The school marm is usually pictured as a woman teaching in a
one-room schoolhouse. She is generally thought to adhere to severe arbitrary
rules and be strict on those who failed to comply with those rules. She likes the
power and control of being in charge. Hers is a no-nonsense world of rules and
rituals.

It is said that a cowboy is not only defined by the work he does,
but by the way he carries himself. It is
a culture of work ethics, not big talkers. Cowboys love nature and the natural
world. They want to die working…not
working for money, working to make things better. They love the land, the ranch and the
plains. They know it intimately. Unfortunately, these characteristics do not always
translate well in relationships. Early western movies portrayed the cowboy and
his horse riding off into the distance and leaving the girl behind. Why is that?
Perhaps it’s because women talk. They need verbal communication in a relationship,
and cowboys love solitude silence.

So what is the attraction between these two seemingly opposite
types of individuals? Is it simply a case of opposites attracting? I think
not. Beneath her tough exterior, the school
marm harbors a deep seated desire to improve the world she lives in. She sees education and the strict adherence to
rules as a means to an end. She is,
after all, a dreamer…just like the cowboy.

The cowboy, on the other hand, lacks the ability to impose order
on his chaotic world. Deep down he knows
that he cannot not succeed in making any significant changes to the world
unless he understands and works within the rules that govern society. In a
sense, he longs for order while at the same time, he is rebelling against it.

The same kind of push-pull attraction can be said to work for most
relationships. What is it that attracts the charismatic leader to the shy,
withdrawn individual? More importantly,
what sustains the relationship when theses opposite forces come into conflict
as eventually they must?

And therein lies, the crux of the situation and the basic plot
line for my writing. I like putting these characters in difficult situations to
see which one rises to the top…which one takes control…and how this crisis
changes their relationship.

Friday, May 9, 2014

If you're reading this blog and you like to write whether it be a diary, travel journal, blog, poetry, fiction or nonfiction, why not share your process with others by answering these four questions and pass it on! If you don't have a blog site of your own, then answer the questions right here in the comment section at the end of this one. I'll post it for you!

What Am I Working On? I am currently at work on my second novel which will be the first in a series following the lives of the family of Simon Kingsley. This novel takes place in Indiana during the turbulent early years of the 1960's. A young minister and rising star on the evangelical stage takes a stand against civil injustice and brings the wrath of the John Birch Society down on his career and his family.

How Does My Writing Differ from Others of Its Genre? I write literary fiction set against the culture and isolationism of the Midwest. I like to look at the present through the lens of the past to see what patterns emerge and what behaviors seem to repeat themselves through the generations. I'm working on finding a comfortable balance between internal and external conflicts so that the action of the plot does not get lost in the character's internal struggles.

Why Do I Write What I Do? I write to clarify my own thinking. I started this blog to explore my own past and discover some answers to questions that had haunted me throughout my life. That part of the blog turned into my first novel, Windborne. Now I write to discover ways to hone my craft. I use it to explore how characters might react in certain situations. But most of all, I write because I love it!

How Does My Writing Process Work? I've written several blog pieces about this so I won't bore you with a rehash. The best way to describe my process is "gasps and spurts"! The story comes together in pieces like a jigsaw puzzle. I write and rewrite as I go along. It's like traversing a maze. Sometimes I think I'm on the right track only to run into a dead end. Then I have to back track and start over in a new direction.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

What sets literary fiction apart from commercial
fiction? Is it the complex, literate, multilayered
language? Is it the relatability of
universal dilemmas? The answer is “Yes!”

Among the arts, literature is unique in that it uses as its
medium the language of everyday communication. One major difference is that literary
language remains present in the reader’s mind in the form of stylistic questions
or multiple interpretations in a way that everyday language does not.

This is not to say that literary fiction is all about the
wording at the expense of the plot. In good literary fiction the characters
must still face challenges and evolve just as they do in commercial
fiction. However, in literary fiction,
the plot tends to be more subtle, often unfolding within the mind or emotions
of the character. More often, in commercial fiction the plot involves continuous
action. It is more about how a character interacts with events in the outside world.
Thus, the reader becomes an observer rather than a participant who brings his
or her own meaning to the work.

In Windborne, most
of the plot is inferred by the choices the characters make. It requires a great
deal of empathy to relate to the characters as humans and to deduce the hidden
motivations and desires that lurk beneath their actions. Things happen on the surface, but what is
really important are the thoughts, desires and motivations of the characters as
well as the underlying social and cultural threats that act upon them. The
reader has to recognize the small tuning points as well as the highs and lows
of the plot based on what they know of the characters. They must bring their own experiences and knowledge
of human nature into the work.

In The Stone House Legacy, I am attempting
to fold more action sequences into the inner life of the characters. The plot
is more overt, but what happens out in the world isn’t as important as what
happens within the minds of the characters. By using an Epilogue and Prologue
to foreshadow the action of the plot I hope to refocus the reader’s attention
on the characters’ inner struggle rather than how they defeat or are defeated
by external forces.

The prose is
pretty straightforward, but I am attempting to use more literary devices such
as symbolism, allusion and imagery that will leave more room for interpretation.
The plot points all relate to the inner mind and may be hidden in quiet moments
and small, but powerful, revelations. I
realize that this may make it more challenging for the reader, but I believe it
will be worth it!

Friday, April 25, 2014

I'm often asked about my writing process. When do I find time? How do I discipline myself to sit down and put thoughts and ideas into words. I know that most writers will tell you that they set aside a time period every day to write, but my mind doesn't work that way.

I am a verbal processor. I need to talk things through and actually hear my own thinking before I can write. So I tend to bore my friends and family with my ideas while I figure things out. I find that the conversation stimulates my thinking and gives me a new perspective on the theme. I'm always rejuvenated and more motivated to write after these conversations. And the writing is better!

Therefore, I am asking for your help! Posted below is a link to the first two chapters of my new novel. It is the story of a young minister who is a rising star on the evangelical stage in the early 1960's. But when he challenges the violence and chaos of the times, he places his career and his family in grave danger. (Still working on the "elevator pitch", so could use some help here as well!)

Click on the link below to view the Preview and leave your feedback. I am especially interested in your reactions to the characters and the initial plot conflicts. In other words, does it entice you to want to read further? Any help will be sincerely appreciated! Thank you.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Regardless of purpose or plot, three-dimensional
characters that live and breathe and walk around in your head are what give a
story life. One critical way to breathe life into a character is to provide a
backstory. Generally, this is the
character’s history that precedes the events of the plot and lends depth or believability
to the main story. It also provides
motivation for the way the character responds to these events.

Backstory may be revealed by
various means, including flashbacks, dialogue, direct narration, or
recollection. In Windborne, most of the backstory is revealed through
direct narration and dialogue. Each character’s story begins chronologically
earlier than the narrative of primary interest.
This was done to provide motivation and believability for the character’s
reactions later in the story. For
example, Virginia lavishes her love on her handicapped sister and her first
born child. When she loses both, she begins to withhold affection from anyone else
close to her and instead becomes overprotective of her few possessions. Helen
grows up neglected and insecure: as a result, she ties herself to an abusive
relationship thinking it is what she deserves. Leah longs for the security and
stability she never had as a child, only to discover that it comes with a price—her
independence.

In The Stone House Legacy,
the backstory will be revealed through a combination of flashback and
narration. Unlike Windborne, the backstory will not chronologically precede
the main story. Instead it will be revealed gradually as the story
unfolds. The protagonist and antagonist
will be more clearly defined so the challenge will be to find the “fatal flaw”
in the antagonist that makes him vulnerable and the single redeeming
characteristic in the antagonist that makes him sympathetic. Both must be
revealed at just the right time to move the plot forward without giving
anything away!

Many writers are masters of the
plot, but fall short when it comes to making their characters real enough to be
believable. It takes time to get to know your characters personally. To do so
means getting inside their heads. In discovering their past and their memories,
you must also analyze the effect these things have on the person they become in
your narrative. You must get beneath the surface and really get to know your
character. If they are real to you,
chances are they will be real to the reader.

Sometimes this means revealing more of your own past than you may be comfortable with. The good news is that you can still hide behind the thin veil of your character and choose just how much or how little to reveal. You can also embellish those details that help to move the plot forward and eliminate those that do not. In Windborne, I resurrected some painful memories, but the result was not only cathartic, it took the past off my shoulders and placed it squarely on the shoulders of my character. I no longer have to own in alone!

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Some writers prefer to work from an outline, others like to
free-write in search of a story line. I
liken my style more to a jigsaw puzzle.
Anyone who has ever worked a jigsaw puzzle will tell you that we always
begin with the frame. The frame has clear cut edges and often outlines the
setting of the picture. Once the frame
is in place we begin looking at the larger images of the picture, seeking out
patterns and lines that continue or complete the image. Finally, we fill in the
details that add depth and complexity to the picture. These are often the most difficult pieces to
find. They are usually very similar in appearance with only subtle differences
in size and shape. It takes a discerning
eye to discriminate and determine where each piece fits to complete the
picture. Leave one piece out, no matter how insignificant it may seem to the
larger picture and the puzzle is unfinished and disappointing.

In Windborne, the frame of the story is the basis of the
setting in the rolling Kansas Flint Hills.
The setting is a constant throughout the story as each generation
interacts with it based on the culture of the times. The larger images are the
characters that move the story forward through their actions. The details are
the nuances that form the theme and central ideas in the story. This is where the writer employs literary
devises such as symbolism, imagery and irony to add depth and complexity to the
story.

In The Stone House Legacy, the frame is the story of the past.
Since the frame in this story is used to hold together the picture of the
present that is the heart of the novel, I have employed the use of a Prologue
and Epilogue to define it. This time, the plot takes center stage as the
characters struggle to overcome the major conflict in the story. Since this is
the most important element in the puzzle, it is critical that the action of the
plot builds so that each minor conflict leads to the major crisis. The reader
must be brought along with the rising action. Once I have satisfactorily built
the plot, I can go back and supply the details that give the story its
dimension.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

“The
value of history is, indeed, not scientific but moral: by liberalizing the
mind, by deepening the sympathies, by fortifying the will, it enables us to
control, not society, but ourselves – a much more important thing; it prepares
us to live more humanely in the present and to meet rather than to foretell the
future.”

Carl Becker, 1873-1945, U.S. historian

The title of my first book was inspired by a quote by Haruki Murakame from "Hear the Wind Sing." Having grown up in Kansas where the wind is incessant, it was a logical symbol for the sometimes random and unexplained events that affect our lives in ways we cannot control. By focusing on the lives of three women over three generations the book reveals the patterns of behavior that are passed from mother to daughter throughout the generations.

As the story unfolded, I became more intrigued by the repeating patterns of history and how the passage of time and cultural changes affect the way each generation reacts to similar circumstances. When I stumbled upon the quote by Carl Becker, I was inspired, in my new book, to look at the obvious similarities between the political and moral struggles during the turbulent years of the early 1960's as compared with those of a similar time in history one hundred years earlier.

Not content with a simple comparison, I wanted a more personal view of the moral and ethical decisions that drove some to commit heinous acts against of violence against their fellow man and others to place themselves in grave mortal danger to stand up against it. So I have placed my characters in situations where they must make a similar choice.

Most of us have at one time experienced a feeling of deja vu where we were overcome with the strong sensation that an event or experience currently being experienced has been experienced in the past, whether it has actually happened or not. It's as if a small voice from the past is whispering the reminder in our ear. I decided to use this phenomenon to create a historical conscience that would serve as a moral compass for the characters. It provides a ghostly reminder that we have walked this path before in a different time and place.

The challenge is to leave enough question in the reader's mind to wonder whether we have actually learned anything from history or whether we are doomed to keep repeating it. Beyond the time periods addressed in the story, there are obvious comparisons to the politics and cultural struggles of the present time. Without pointing them out, I hope the reader will draw his or her own conclusions about the patterns revealed in the story. At the very least, it should make for some interesting conversations among those who read it.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Ever since they were cast out of the
Garden of Eden, mankind has been seeking a return to a self-sustaining utopian
society based on peace, harmony and communal living. Perhaps at no time in
history was this more evident than during the 19th century when
hundreds of such societies littered the nation’s landscape, most disappearing
within a few years without a trace.

Often led by charismatic leaders
with high religious or secular moral ideals, these settlements experimented
wildly with different models of government, marriage, labor and wealth. Unfortunately,
paradise in the present has always been elusive but that hasn’t stopped people
from trying. Seekers attempting to leave behind the conventions and restrictions
of traditional society have created self-sustaining communities ranging from groups
of tofu-making hippies in rural Virginia to expatriates living in treehouses in
the Costa Rican rainforest.

So why have they failed? For one thing, the bar is constantly being
raised. Life in a modest American home today would have been the envy of the
Middle Ages. It seems that humans are
not able to maintain a moral, financial or educational equality. People will always want more, or someone else’s
toys. Competition is a core human
quality of “survival of the fittest.” Any land of milk and honey automatically
attracts swords and muskets.

Secondly, although acceptance into
these societies is often carefully controlled and outsiders are not welcome, internal
power grabs are even more poisonous to utopian dreams than external threats.
Utopian leadership based on the model of the “benevolent prince” or “philosopher
king” is inherently unstable. There are inevitably factions out of power who
are unhappy with things. Charismatic leaders typically do not provide successors
with anything like their talents. The competition for succession invariably
favors not the wise, but the ruthless.

Finally, ideals are constraints, and
the more constraints one tries to impose, the less viable the community will
be. Since most religious utopias imposed constraints on the members’ worldly
desires, they needed a mechanism for self-selection and, thus, exclusion of
non-believers. Over time, however, these constraints become weakened through
changes in leadership and outside influences and the lines between the society
and the outside world become blurred. In
the end, each member must choose his own way.

In my new book, The Stone House
Legacy, I will explore this phenomenon in more detail. I will look at the
failure of one such settlement through the lens of modern day society. Are we
doomed to continue to make the same mistakes in our search for paradise? In
James Madison’s view, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

I have always been fascinated by the concept of charismatic leadership. What is it that makes the charismatic leader almost god-like in the eyes of their followers so that people line up behind them without question? What is the psychological bondage between leader and follower that makes them succeed? What are the attributes of such a leader, how does the social situation give rise to their power, and finally, how does the interaction between the leader and his followers give rise to his power?

Gandhi and Hitler were both charismatic leaders. They were able to establish a strong connection with their followers based on a personal conviction, bordering on the magical...as if they alone had received the vision directly from some higher power. These men possessed the ability to connect with a large audience of supporters, often by reinforcing and then heightening their existing beliefs. They were brilliant communicators, always certain of their beliefs.

Both leaders rose to power at a time when their followers were in distress and were looking for someone who would identify himself with their problems. The social situation was becoming increasingly worsened and the leader appeared at a time when people were looking for a savior. The leader represents a radical change in the current situation and his conviction arouses the followers to become part of the change.

It seems to me that charismatic leaders must face a critical turning point at which they must choose between the power and prestige of their position and their belief in their own god-like powers or accept their own mortality and move toward routinization of leadership, thus relinquishing their power over their followers. Those who try to hang on create a type of cult leadership based on authoritarian methods, while those who relinquish the power of leadership lose followers and quickly fall out of favor. They leave themselves open to attack from opponents who seize upon the opportunity to discredit the charismatic leader in order to advance their own cause.

As I begin work on my next novel, I hope to explore this phenomenon in more detail by bringing my main character to the decision point and seeing which direction he chooses.

Coming in 2014 (hopefully!)
The Stone House Legacy by Wanda DeHaven Pyle

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About Me

Wanda Pyle grew up on a farm in the Flint Hills of Kansas and draws upon this background in much of her writing. She is currently living with her husband in Claremont, California. She enjoys reading, writing and spending time with her grandchildren. Her debut novel chronicles the lives of three generations of women through economic hardship, war, and eventually, self-reliance. She is currently at work on her second novel.